MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — As the Hope Coliseum inches toward its seventh decade in operation, some major changes are expected to occur regarding seating options.
WVU Deputy Athletics Director and Chief Development Officer Ben Murray said many Division I institutions have already implemented the concept of premium seating within their arenas, and WVU will be one of the next colleges to do so.
“Fifty-six years of a great venue, and we’ve done a lot of renovations to it over the years,” Murray said on WAJR’s “Talk of the Town.” “We’ve always tried to find a way to get some enhanced seating opportunities for our season ticket holders, and we’re finally able to add that to the Hope Coliseum this summer.”
Part of the changes will include moving the student seating section. It was announced last fall that student seating will shift next season to behind and above the visiting team basket.
Meanwhile, there will be multiple options for the premium seating, such as loge seating, ledge seating and loge suites.
The loge seating will include in-game food and drink wait service, cushioned swivel chairs, refrigerators, televisions, and special cabinetry.
The ledge seating will include in-game food and drink wait service, cushioned swivel chairs, and televisions.
Last but not least, two loge suites with upscale amenities will be another option that WVU fans can choose from.
“We want to create an environment in the Hope Coliseum that just can’t match sitting in your living room, so just being able to offer a variety of seating opportunities is one thing that we want to do,” Murray stated. “We have a great environment at Hope Coliseum, and we want to continue that.”
The premium seating will be located between sections 106 and 110. In order to create these renovations, the media areas must be moved to a corner in the lower level. Although they will be moved, the media areas will remain the same in regard to appearance and size.
“We want to create those premium options because we just don’t have enough of those,” Murray said. “It’s one thing that we struggle with in Morgantown and at WVU. We compare to our peers in not having the premium seat options that others might have.”
After all graduation ceremonies are completed, the renovations for the premium seating will take place. The premium seating is promised to be completed just in time for the 2026-27 basketball season.
A philanthropic commitment of $50,000 or more to support WVU Athletics (separate from required priority seating donations and pledged over a five-year period) will qualify donors to participate in the premium seat selection process, which also includes access to courtside seating.
Those interested in the premium seating can go to mountaineerathleticclub.com and look under the “Men’s Basketball Seat and Parking Adjustment” tab to learn more or get in contact with someone in regards to purchasing premium seating.